title: Biostimulation of indigenous communities for the successful dechlorination of tetrachloroethene (perchloroethylene)-contaminated groundwater.
abstract: Chlorinated ethenes are of environmental concern with most reports of successful microbial-mediated remediation being associated with major dechlorinating groups such as Dehalococcoides (Dhc) species. However, limited information is available on the community dynamics and dechlorinating activities of indigenous non-Dhc groups. Here, we present evidence of dechlorination of tetrachloroethene (perchloroethylene, PCE) in groundwater samples by indigenous microbial communities. 100 % PCE conversion to ethene was observed in acetate-stimulated 24 week-microcosms (controls; 15 %). Microbial community profiles showed dominance by groups such as Proteobacteria, Spirochaetes, Firmicutes, Methanomicrobiaceae and Methanosarcinaceae. Pareto-Lorenz (PL) analyses suggested an adapted (45 % PL value) but variable bacterial community (55.5 % Δ t(week)) compared to Archaea (25 % PL value; 46.9 % Δ t(week)). Our findings provide evidence of dechlorinating potential of indigenous microorganisms and useful information on their dynamics which may be exploited for in situ groundwater bioremediation.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5042, Australia, pati0018@flinders.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sayali S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Adetutu
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aburto-Medina
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Menz
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene